Burial container



Feb. 3, 1942. G. c. Ml-:ADowsl BURIAL CONTAINER Fil'ed March 4, 1940 HIVENTOR. GEORGE C. MEHDOWS Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATESJPATENT OFFICE BURIAL CONTAINER George CrMeadows, Elgin, Ill.

Application March 4, 1940, Serial No. 322,046

2 Claims. lICI. 27'1'7)A This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in burial containers and has particular reference to improved asphalt vaults for burial caskets and asphalt caskets.

In the following specification and claims, it Will be understood that the term burial container embraces either/a burial vault adapted to enclose a burial casket, or a burial casket.

Among the distinctive and novel features of my burial container invention are the followlng:

(a) The burial container herein disclosed is composed of two substantially similar half sections adapted to receive an intertting sealing strip or member between them whereby said sections are not only adapted to be held against relative lateral displacement but such strip or member forms, together with its novel adhesive composition coating, an effective waterproof and air-tight seal. Constructing the burial container or burial vault of two similar sections obviously aifords the production of such sections by a single set of dies or molds to permit the manufacture of same at comparatively low cost.

(b) Constructing a burial vault of two like or similar sections affords easier handling of same as either of such sections is comparatively lighter in Weight than the usual receptacle section of the usual deeper vaults having shallow covers.

(c) The burial container is formed under heat and pressure of a novel bituminous mastic composition, preferably consisting of a mixture of bitumen or asphalt, asbestos fibers and rock Wool, which provides a moldable inorganic mixture that can be readily re-enforced with metallic re-enforcing and one which will render the Walls comparatively hard and impervious to water or other ground fluids and provide the desired structural rigidity to withstand earth pressures.

(d) The preferred tapered sides impart an artistic effect to the assembled sections.

(e) The novel sealing and retaining member insures a simple and effective air-tight and Waterimpervious seal for the assembled sections.

(f) The novel adhesive coating for the sealing member andl its receiving recess will remain plastic for a long time, provides an effective adhesive composition between the sealing member Vand its recess, and when used on a burial vault may be readily protected by a suitable fabric` moved from the sealing member and the recess in the open side of the complementary vault section.

(y) The improved inorganic composition used in theV body of the container sections is impervious to air and water and constitutes a substantially everlasting material which will readily withstand the surrounding earth pressures.

(h) A novel colorful finish is provided which is described in the following specifications.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a burial container or vault embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the longitudinal center line thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the adjacent edges of the two half sections showing the sealing member, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of a corner portion of one of the vault sections.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged cross-section of a modified sealing member, and

Fig. '7 showsv the modified sealing member assembled with one of the container sections before removal of the protective fabrics.

In the illustrations, I prefer to show a burial vault I0A which is preferably of the usual size adapted to enclose therein a single casket and which consists of two die-formed hot molded half sections of preferably similar construction, shape, and design, each indicated by numeral I2. One of these sections I2 is adapted to be inverted and Ymounted upon the casket-supporting section to constitute the vault cover.

The bottom section is preferably provided with ornate handle bars I3 carried on brackets II secured inl any suitabley manner to the wall sides.

It Will be noted that the side and end walls of both 4sections are preferably tapered downwardly from the open face to the bottom. This construction affords same to be more easily removed from the dies.

The manufacture of both of such like sections from a single set of molds or dies affords production of such sections each of a weight which is comparatively less than the usual casket-supporting deep receptacle to facilitate handling of same. 1

The side Walls IZA, end walls IZB, as Well as the lateral wall I2C are all preferably of uniform thickness or cross-section and the lateral wall I2c is lpreferably provided with a plurality of spaced transverse stiffening ribs IED.

Thicker wall sections dof-not require metal revenforcing rod I1 welded or otherwise secured to its edge.

Within the adjacent edges of the side and end walls of the two container sections I2 is a peripheral continuous recess I2E having preferably inwardly converging side walls IZF.

A combined seal and interlocking retainer I6 is adapted to be positioned within the opposed recesses I2E to securely seal the joint between the two sections I2 when they are mounted in assembled position as shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive.

These recesses IZE might be made of rectangular or V-shaped cross-section and the sealing member I6 in such cases could be rectangular or diamond shaped cross-section for proper seating within such recesses. I have preferred to show the recesses with inwardly converging sides and the sealing retainer I6 of a cross-section having oppositely tapered upper and lower portions and the cross-section being of a shape to t within the adjacent recesses I2E of the two sections I2.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and '7, I show another fo-rm of sealing member I8 which is formed of a T-shaped cross-section and reenforced vwith a metallic member I9 preferably v of T cross-section. The use of a retainer sealing member such as I8 permits fabrication of the container sections I2 without the sealingrecesses I2E.

Both types of sealing membersl I6 and I8 are preferably made from the same composition as the sections I2.

In order to form a bond or adhesive type of seal between the sealing member I6 or I 8 and the sections I2, I provide a petroleum asphalt adhesive mastic 2l of the following specification:

Flash point (Cleveland open cup), not less than i Softening point (ring and ball method), not less than 122 F.

Penetration at 32 F., 200 g., 60 sec., not less than 35.

Penetration at 77 F., 100 g., 5 sec., 85 to 100 Penetration at 115 F., 50 g., 2' sec., not more than 220 Loss of heating at 325 F., 50 g., 5 hours, not more than 1.0%

Penetration at 77 F., 100 g., 5 sec., of residue after heating at 325 F., as compared with penetration of asphalt before heating, not less than 70.0%

Ductility at 77 F., not less than 30 cm.

Bitumen soluble in carbon disulphide, `not less than 99.5%

Proportion of bitumen soluble in carbon tetrachloride, not less than 99.0%

The above-specified asphalt adhesive mastic is applied hot to the male and female interlocking parts of the sections I2 and the sealing member I6 or I8 as with a brush, and these coated portions, which are exposed during shipment and assembled in final sealing position a water-tight seal is effected between the adjacent sides of the container sections and their interlocking sealing member I6 or I8.

My preferable composition consists of substantially the following ingredients in substantially the proportions indicated:

100 pounds of asphalt of preferably about 165 F. melting point, penetration 3, although other suitable asphalts may be substituted.

100 pounds of asbestos fibers.

28 pounds of rock Wool.

The composition is prepared by rst heating the asphalt and then gradually adding the asbestos fibers during continuous heating and mixing Aof these two ingredients for about thirty minutes and then gradually adding the rock Wool during a continuous heating and mixing operation for a duration of about 60 to 90 minutes. These materials are during mixture maintained at a temperature of preferably 350 F. during mixing operations.

Obviously, the asbestos and rock Wool could rst be thoroughly mixed together and then gradually added to the heated asphalt for thorough mixture therewith.

The mixture is then removed from the mixer and while hot placed into the heated female die portion and then subjected to a pressure of about 1000 pounds per square inch by the heated male die portion tothereby form the outer half shell portion of the vault'section I2. The mass is retained under pressure for about l0 minutes.

After the withdrawal of the male die portion the basket-like form of Wire mesh or expanded metal is then. inserted within and adjacent to the inner face of molded half shell whereupon the male die is moved inwardly the proper vdistance into the reenforoing of basket-like structure to slightly embed the reenforcementA into the inner face of the molded half shell. After the male die is Withdrawn, another batch of hot composition is then placed upon the formed and reenforced half shell whereupon the male die is then brought into final position to form the complete vault section I2. In this inal operation a pressure of about 1000 pounds is maintained by the heated dies for about 15 minutes to cause a proper intermingling of the two molded .half shell portions. The reenforcing wire mesh I5 to which are welded, or otherwise secured,`the rib reenforcing T members I4 includes at its'pe'riphf eral edge a round reenforcing rod I1 Welded or otherwise secured thereto.

My following compositions and formulae may be substituted for that described above:

Composition No.2 Pounds Asphalt of preferably 165 F. melting point 100 Wool fibers 28 to. 30 Cotton linters. 18 to 20 or f Composition No. 3

Y Pounds Asphalt of preferably165 F. melting point 100 Cotton linters 20 Wood fibers A novel colorful effect may be imparted to the container by `applying to the exposed exterior sides of container sections, preferablypromptly upon their discharge from the molds or dies, a coating of finely ground or vcrushed particles of rock crystals, silica orcoloredv slate. 1These particles may be brushed, blown or sand blasted onto the sides of the container sections immediately upon their removal from the dies, or the exterior surfaces of the sections may be brushcoated with hot fluid or plastic asphalt and then air-sprayed or otherwise covered with such coloredparticles.

In the appended claims, one of the container sections may be termed a receptacle and the other section a cover.

Various changes and modications may be readily made in the container construction, sealing member and composition by those skilled in the art upon perusal of the above specication and attached drawing Without departing from the spirit of my invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a burial container comprising a receptacle member and a cover member therefor, said receptacle and cover members being made of a like composition of matter and having alignable interlockable peripheral portions of like construction, each provided with an endless recess having inwardly convergin-g faces, a separate sealing and interlocking retainer composed of the same composition of matter as that of said receptacle and cover members, said sealing and interlocking retainer having oppositely tapered portions adapted to interi-lt said receptacle and cover recesses and being partially embedded and supported in the recess of one of said members, an adhesive mastic interposed between said sealing and interlocking retainer and the faces of its supporting recess to provide a water-Seal therebetween, an adhesive mastic coating covering the protruding portion of said sealing and interlocking retainer and the adjacent portions of the peripheral face of the retainer-supporting member, a removable tape covering said mastic coating, a layer of an adhesive mastic coating covering the faces of the recess in the other of said members and the adjacent portions of the peripheral faces of said other member, and a removable tape covering said layer of adhesive mastic coating on said other member, said adhesive mastic coatings being of a like composition of matter. and being adapted to unite to form a homogeneous sealing mass upon the removal of the protective tape coverings and the interlocking of the peripheral portions of the two container members with said sealing retainer.

2. In a burial container comprising a receptacle member and a cover member therefor, said receptacle and cover members being made of a like composition of matter and having alignable interlockable peripheral portions of like construction, each provided with an endless recess, a separate sealing and interlocking retainer composed of the same composition of matter as that of said receptacle and cover members, said sealing and interlocking retainer being adapted to interfit said receptacle and cover recesses and being partially embedded and supported in the recess of one of said members, an adhesive mastic interposed between said sealing and interlocking retainer and the supporting recess to provide a Water-seal therebetween, an adhesive mastic coating covering the protruding portion of said sealing and interlocking retainer and the adjacent portions of the peripheral face of the retainer-supporting member, a removable tape covering said mastic coating, a layer of adhesive mastic coating covering the wall faces of the recess in the other of said members and the adjacent portions of the peripheral face of said other member, and a removable tape covering said layer of adhesive mastic coating on said other member, said adhesive' mastic coatings being of a like composition of matter and being adapted to unite to form a homogeneous sealing mass upon the removal of the protective tape coverings and the interlocking of the peripheral portions of the two container members with said sealing retainer.

GEORGE C. MEADOWS. 

